Israel’s High Court of Justice has ruled that in addition to it being illegal to driver to be using a cellular phone without a hands-free device, one may not hold a cellphone in one’s hand while driving either, even if a call is not in progress.

The court heard a case regarding a Jerusalem driver who was fined 1,500 shekels and his license was revoked because he was holding his phone. The driver maintained he was stopped at a red light as well. He worked his way through the lower courts, and finally the High Court, all backing the original decision against the motorist.

Regarding the driver’s claim he was stopped at a traffic signal, the court opted to believe the version of police, that the car was indeed in motion.

According to the law, a driver must hold the steering wheel of a vehicle with two hands while in motion.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)